but going over the fiscal cliff is serious business. >> reporter: any real deal-making is the stuff of quiet conversations and meetings. rob neighbors used the language of high-stakes diplomacy to respond to john boehner's complaint >> i thought the conversation was very direct. and as always, i appreciate directness. >> reporter: while the senate majority leader, harry reid, was very blunt about being pessimistic. >> i don't understand his brain, you should ask him. >> reporter: visiting their nation's capitol today, mixed expectations from tourists from georgia and texas >> i hope they get it, more than i did before the election. >> of course i'm nervous, you never know what politicians are going to do. >> reporter: democrats, still lifted by their election success, argued that voters chose higher tax rates for wealthy americans as part of any plan to cut the deficit. and say republicans will have to give in. >> did speaker john boehner get the message? because the message was work together. >> they're not going to openly concede on this point this far out from the deadline, but they